IWC Wetlands Animals

	Barred Owl - the overall impression of the Barred Owl is soft and vulnerable, but it is a skilled predator. In fact, this raptor has been known to attack and eat other smaller owls! Its standard call is a ringing accented series of hoots. Some people believe that the hooting of this owl sounds like someone slowly saying, "who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-a-a-a-alllll." This raptor makes many other vocalizations including a frenzied and raucous monkey-like squall that can make the hair on the back of one's neck stand on end. The Barred Owl prefers deep moist forests, wooded swamps, and woodlands near waterways.

	Mosquito - all mosquitoes have four stages of development - egg, larva, pupa, and adult - and spend their larval and pupal stages in water. When adult mosquitoes emerge from the aquatic stages, they mate, and the female seeks a blood meal to obtain the protein necessary for the development of her eggs. The male mosquito does not take a blood meal, but may feed on plant nectar. He lives for only a short time after mating.
	Watch an adult mosquito emerge!

	Bobcat- a mother bobcat's ear markings, black patches on the backs of the ears, and upturned tail help her kittens keep her in sight through dense brush. The bobcat can be recognized by its tufted, triangular shaped ears and facial tufts or "sideburns." The name bobcat comes from its "bobbed" tail.

	Roseate Spoonbill - adult Roseate spoonbills have red eyes! No other bird has a bill shaped like the spoonbill. This is the on;y species of spoonbill found in the Western Hemisphere. It feeds by sweeping its bill from side to side in water. Sensitive nerves in the soft edges of the spatulate bill signal the bill to snap shut on the prey, providing the bird with a meal sight unseen!

	Moose - moose are the largest member of the deer family and, next to the bison, are the largest native land animal in North America! Together the antlers on a male moose may weigh up to eighty-eight pounds! They are found in forested areas near streams, swamps, or ponds where there are willows. During the warm months, moose feed on water lilies, pond weed, horsetails, bladderworts, sedges, forbs, bur-reed, and other aquatic vegetation.

	Alligator - the skin on the alligator's back is armored with embedded bony plates called osteoderms or scutes. The young can be distinguished from adults because they have bright yellow stripes on the tail; adults have dark stripes on the tail. Large prey are dragged under water, drowned and then devoured in pieces!

	Snowy Egret - in the latter part of the 19th century and into the early twentieth, snowy egret plumes were very popular on hats. The result was that these birds were hunted until they were nearly extinct! Now protected, populations have recovered. The snowy egret feeds by moving briskly in the water, shuffling its feet and rushing about trying to stir out of hiding its prey of fish, insects and other aquatic organisms. The snowy egret usually holds its neck in an "S" curve in flight.

	Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly - Black Swallowtails lay eggs on Parsley and plants of the carrot family. The caterpillars are almost always found near the small flowers of the plant. They prefer eating the flowers or young seeds.

	River Otter - River otters spend almost half of their lives sleeping! They use their whiskers to detect prey when hunting and obstructions when swimming. Beware! They can discharge a strong, disagreeable scent from a pair of anal glands when threatened or disturbed!

	Green Tree Frog - typically treefrogs prefer to walk or climb rather than jump! Males make a really loud noise thats a bit like quacking, which is sometimes known as a "rain call" because they tend to make a lot of noise after warm rains! They can be found on floating vegetation or in trees and bushes near water, as well as other damp places. The green tree frog is associated with a famous individual. It was the basis for the famous Muppet character “Kermit the Frog”!

	Gopher Tortoise- the estimated life span of the Gopher Tortoise ranges between 40-60 years. It is estimated that of every 100 Gopher tortoise eggs laid, only 1-3 survives to become a reproductive adult! Gopher tortoises dig burrows! The burrow provides refuge from fires, predators, and harsh climatic conditions.

	Red Shouldered Hawk - more a flier than a sailer, the Red Shouldered typically crosses the sky with a series of flaps of the wings, followed by a glide. It is often found in lowlands, especially swampy woods and bogs. It hunts by sitting quietly on a low perch, dropping down to capture snakes, frogs and crayfish. Numbers of Red-shouldered Hawks have declined, due in some part to pesticides and PCBs, but chiefly due to habitat loss. Wetlands protection will be an important factor in the conservation of this raptor.

Listen to a bat!	Big Brown Bat - bats are the only flying mammals. The big brown bat is nocturnal and usually begins flying at dusk. The wingspread of the Big Brown bat is about 13 inches across. His head and body are about two and a half inches long. His fur is rusty brown on top and grayish below. The Big B brown bat is a very gentle, intelligent animal that is helpful to people because he eats many insects during the night.

	Eastern Indigo Snake - a big shiny blue-black snake with a reddish throat. The indigo is about eight feet long. The indigo is large and has a heavy body with smooth shiny black or blue-black scales. It is the largest nonvenomous snake in North America!